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Your parents are coming to visit you and you want to seem like you have your life together but have no clue where to take them? Well have no fear - here’s a list of places to eat/drink when your parents are in town. With an overall top 5 (+1) places and my favorite place to go per cuisine/neighborhood, here is a list of places that are parent-friendly with options that are great for when they foot the bill, are guaranteed to have space last minute, and/or will show your parents you know the real SF and that you’re doing all right in the city.
OVERALL TOP 5(+2)
Slanted Door
$$$ - Vietnamese - Embarcadero
This is one of my favorite places in San Francisco and where my family always wants to go to when they visit. Not just because it was where we ate when we first visited the city but because the food is delicious and right on the water in the Ferry building. Try to make reservations in advance (a week is pretty necessary for Friday/Saturday night) but if you line up around 5:15 before the 5:30pm dining service start, you will be guaranteed a table (definitely possible but with quite a wait later in the night).
Atelier Crenn
$$$ - French/Molecular Gastronomy - Cow Hollow
Sub - Petit Crenn
$$$ - French (Tasting Menu) - Hayes Valley
If you have something to celebrate, really want to wow your parents (and benefit from their open wallets), go to Atelier Crenn. This is French chef Dominique Crenn’s signature 3 Michelin star restaurant with an elaborate multiple course tasting menu (and a hefty $400+ price tag) - check out the Chef’s Table episode to see it for yourself.
N.B. All Crenn's restaurants are now land meat free.
If you want a similar experience but want a more “affordable” and relaxed meal, then her 2nd restaurant Petit Crenn in Hayes Valley has a great (seafood forward) menu at $105.
Cotogna
Right in the Financial district just north of the Transamerica Pyramid, Cotogna is a bustling Italian restaurant with a very broad menu with something for everyone.
Tonga Room and Hurricane Bar
For a very fun and unique experience, take your parents to the Tonga Room. This tiki bar and restaurant in the Fairmont Hotel has a floating live band surrounded by hourly rain showers - on a first come first serve basis (unless they're guests), get a table with food or grab an open table or space at the bar and check out this very cool spot.
Osha Thai
$$ - Thai - Embarcardero/Downtown/Nob Hill
Osha has some of the best Thai food in the city and is a great sit down restaurant. The Embarcadero location doesn't have a lot of reservation possibility but is definitely doable for walk-ins plus they have two nearby locations to try from. A very easy option that is bound to please.
+
Arsicault
The lines can go very long for the Richmond pastry shop particularly before work hours and on weekend mornings but they move quick and it's very worth it - owner Armando Lacayo time-honed croissants helped Arsicault win Bakery of the Year by Bon Appetit in 2016. The chocolate almond croissants are truly incredible (this is coming from someone who grew up in France and is very picky about their croissants) and the kouign ammans are a must try - try the new Civic Center location for much smaller lines!
FAVORITES BY CUISINE
Argentine/Steakhouse/Latin American
Lolinda
$$$ - Mission
Vietnamese
*Slanted Door
Japanese
Ozumo
$$$ - Embarcadero
This Japanese restaurant near the Ferry Building has lots of different rolls, yummy grilled options and both a great lunch & dinner menu - your parents will enjoy the atmosphere and sleek decor.
Italian
*Cotogna
Runners up: Flour & Water/A16/Che Fico/Cento Osteria
New American
Tartine Manufactory
$$ - Mission
This New American restaurant is always a crowd pleaser - delicious food with lots of flavor and a fun bustling vibe.
Thai
*Osha Thai
Burmese
Burma Superstar
$ - Inner Richmond
Show your parents a side to SF and a new cuisine they might not have seen before at Burma Superstar. They might, however, recognize the Tea Leaf salad from the Food Network. They do not take any reservations (there is a Yelp Waitlist) so either get there early or try the Oakland location/one of their multiple spin off restaurants.
Café
Mazarene
$ - Downtown
Runner Up: Sightglass
American
Waterbar
$$$ - Embarcadero
Ice Cream
Birite Creamery
$ - Mission
Californian
The Snug
$$ - Pacific Heights
French
*Petit/Atelier Crenn
Mediterranean
Noosh
$$ - Pacific Heights
Bakery
*Arsicault
Bar;Hawaiian
*Tonga Room
Indian
Rooh
$$$ - Indian
Brunch
eight am
$$ - Brunch
Pizza
Il Casaro
$$ - Castro/North Beach
FAVORITES BY AREA
Mission Flour + Water
$$$ - Italian
No trip to San Francisco is complete without going to Flour + Water. This super popular Italian spot in the Mission serves great dishes your parents will love. Definitely try to make a reservation in advance - if the wait’s too long then check out their nearby Pizzeria for a more casual meal.
Runner Up: Tartine Manufactory, Birite Creamery, Lolinda, Sightglass
Embarcadero
*Slanted Door
Runner Up: Ozumo and Waterbar
FiDi
*Cotogna
Marina
A16
$$$ - Italian
Cow Hollow
*Atelier Crenn
Fillmore The Snug
Runner Up: Noosh
NoPa
Che Fico
$$ - Italian
Richmond *Arsicault
Runner Up: Burma Superstar
SOMA
Rooh
Runner Up: Sightglass
Downtown
Mazarene
Haight
Sightglass
$ - Cafe
Downtown
Mazarene
Hayes Valley
*Petit Crenn
Fisherman's Wharf
eight am
Nob Hill
*Tonga Room
South Beach
Cento Osteria
$$ - Italian
Castro + North Beach
Il Casaro
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